BEIJING - Air China launched the first-ever non-stop service between Beijing and Honolulu Monday after receiving approvals from Chinese and US regulatory agencies.

The new service will operate three times each week using A330-200 aircraft, according to the airline.

It will allow Chinese visitors to access the airline's extensive network, serving the Hawaiian Islands and US mainland, it said.

The Hawaiian Islands have become an increasingly popular destination for Chinese visitors in recent years. In 2012, the number of Chinese tourists who visited the archipelago increased 64 percent year on year.